The Journal Sentinel recently published an article about a phenomenon called Little Free Libraries: little outposts that serve as free libraries. There are no fines, no dues, no library cards needed. The philosophy is basically "take a book, leave a book" although the article is quick to point out that people don't have to leave a book in order to take a book and people are encouraged to keep a book if they like it. This is such a simple way of encouraging people seek out a book, look at the cover and back cover, maybe skim through a few pages to determine if it is something that looks interesting. In a world that is brimming with eReaders and iPads, it is refreshing to see that someone has thought up a way to bypass the technology.
The Little Free Libraries reminds me of the "book mobiles" of my grade school days. Book mobiles were basically libraries on wheels and were associated with the local library. Once every two weeks or so, the book mobile would come to the grade school and we would have the opportunity to browse through the stacks and check out books that we may not have had access to at the school library. It gave those students who maybe didn't get to go to the local library on a regular basis the opportunity to find an adventure, a biography, an opportunity to learn or escape. I can't remember if we were required to have library cards in order to check out the books. Somehow, I don't think we were—being kids, we probably would have lost our library cards before we even boarded the bus and the kids that didn't have a library card for whatever reason wouldn't have been able to check anything out.
I have an iPad and a Kindle and I do use both for reading. However, I don't feel the same excitement when turning on my Kindle to read a book as I do when I go to the library, mosey through the stacks and come home with 2-3 books that I can't wait to read. Technology is not going to dwindle—on the contrary, iPad and eReader sales continue to rise. Schools are increasingly handing out iPad's to students for school use and more textbooks are slated to be released for eReaders. But I hope print doesn't go the way of the dinosaur. Maybe the advent of Little Free Libraries will keep alive the wonder of finding the perfect book you need at that moment, the feeling of holding something solid in your hands, turning the pages as you weave your way through someone's life story or an adventure. And it gives those who do not have access to the latest technology the opportunity to experience the joy of reading for free.
